Hamilton AFC

In 1972 Hamilton won the northern league but lost the playoffs for the national league in a third match against Wellington Diamond United. Then in 1973 they finished as runners-up to North Shore United in the northern league. Further heartbreak followed in 1975 when they lost the northern league on goal average to Manurewa. But in 1976 Hamilton won the league by six points to earn automatic entry to the national league in 1977, and also beat three national league clubs on the way to winning the then-prestigious Air New Zealand Cup.

Hamilton was relegated from the national league at the end of 1978 but won the northern league in 1979 - recording a record low "goals against" of just four. It contested the national league from 1880-83 before again being relegated.

Hamilton won the northern league again in 1984 but elected not to go back into the national league because of a lack of sponsorship/finance.

In 1988 Hamilton joined with Claudelands Rovers in creating Waikato United, to contest the national league. In 1992 Hamilton formally amalgamated with Waikato United, with whom it shared Muir Park as its home base.

​Bill Hume was in his third season as player-coach back at Hamilton, after years in Australia - where he achieved the rare feat of playing for Australia after having also represented New Zealand. Hamilton had been disappointed at not being selected for the inaugural national league, but had a strogn Chatham Cup run. They beat Wellington national league club Hungaria 1-0 in the quarterfinals at Gower Park, but then lost at home in the semis to eventual Cup (and national league) winners Blockhouse Bay 2-1 in front of one of the biggest crowds ever seen at Muir Park.

Cruelly it came down to a tragic miss-pass by player-coach Bill Hume to allow Bay the winning goal. Hume's sqaure pass was snapped up by international wionger Clive Campbell, who easily went around keeper Bruce McFarlane.

Hamilton almost forced extra time late in the second half with a series of strong attacks.But John Morris was great in the Bay goal and pulled off magnificent saves. It was 17-year-old John Ravenscroft who made his name in this match in taking it to his experienced Bay opponents.

Alex Kelly joined Hamilton from Rotorua City in 1970. A quick-thinking centre forward.

Keith Nelson - Muir Park Legend

Keith Nelson was sensation from the moment he arrived from Scotland and made his debut for Hamilton, at home to Whangarei City in 1974. He scored an amazing header - and was then sent off and given a 4-week suspension for swearing at the referee. He stayed with Hamilton until 1978, and was a pillar of the team which won the northern league and Air New Zealand Cup in 1976. That year he was named New Zealand Player of the Year.

He was Hamilton's all-time top goalscorer in the national league, with 15 in 1977 (12-team league) and another 15 in 1978 (despite Hamilton getting relegated). He made his New Zealand debut in 1977 and finished with 20 A-international caps and 16 goals to his credit in 1983. Keith had previously been a Scottish Junior International, and played for Cambuslang Rangers. He was a member of New Zealand's World Cup squad in 1977.

NB, note mud in the above photo. Muir Park was used for training and for matches and was a peat-based mud heap most of the time in the 1970s.

Nelson was one of the finest players to come to the Waikato from any era, with a bullet of a shot, real speed, and an uncanny eye for goal.

Here he is celebrating the Air New Zealand cup final fin at Newmarket Park.

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And here is Nelson as Pirate Keith, fresh from ransacking opposition defences.

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Brian Coe. Coe was a pivotal and sometimes alienating figure, who did much to shape Hamilton AFC as coach from 1975-77 - its most successful era, and again in 1980 and the mid-80s.

Muir Park, 1976: Jim Barry collects from Alex Young. In the background is the Muir Park stand from the era before the clubrooms frontage was converted to glass windows. Double doors had been installed but the rest of the frotnage was a block wall.

Roy Little

Roy Little (Robert McGregor Little) was born in Bambridge, Northern Ireland in 1948. He was little by name and nature, standing just 5ft 2 inches in his prime.

Here he lifts the Air New Zealand Cup as captain after Hamilton beat Gisborne City 3-1 in the final at Newmarket Park. Later in the season they won the northern league to gain entry to the national league for the first time.

Little was part of the fabric of Muir Park. He was with Hamilton when the club was formed in 1964, and was captain in 1976 and 77. He was part of almost every major achievement for the club.

Had a huge engine and was a formidable midfielder. Gained NZ U23 honours. Later was an administrator for Hamilton AFC and a board member for Waikato United. The "Welcome to Muir Park" sign was retired to his Papamoa home after Muir Park was sold.

Hamilton won the northern league for the first time in 1972 but in the playoff for the national league lost out to Wellington Diamond United, 1-1, 1-1, 1-2 (decider played at Wembley Park, Wanganui).

Click to enlarge for season summary report, from the Hamilton-WDU programme, Muir Park 24 September 1972.

Alex Young

Alex Young. Tall defender and longtime favourite at Muir Park. 37 national league appearances for Hamilton before being sacked by 1978 coach Kevin Fallon.

A Scot, he played with real passion and skill, and was a leader.

Gained a New Zealand cap in 1977. Much later, at the end of a lengthy career, was a member of the Mt Maunganui team which made the Chatham Cup final in 1986.

ALF STAMP

Alf Stamp in action at Muir Park. A freakish, lanky Scottish-born dribble wizard winger and entertainer. Part footballer, part clown, amazing to watch.

Alf played three seasons in Scotland with Queen's Park and Partick Thistle before joining Caversham for the 1975 season then Hamilton in 1977. His 6' 4'' frame and unorthodox style made him a great drawcard.

He cast a long-legged shadow in playing 28 matches for Hamilton (1977-78) and was the clown prince of the national league. His dip of the shoulder or twitch of the hip could be mesmerising.

He scored the first national league hat trick by a Hamilton/Waikato player, v his old club, Caversham, in 1977. And then did it again versus North Shore later that year.

Once, having been criticised for not scoring enough with his head despite his height, he dribbled through a defence at Muir Park, and then dived down into the mud to head the ball over the line.

Hamilton's player of the year in 1977 - pipping Keith Nelson.

He scored 12 goals in total for Hamilton in 1977 and 1978, before being sacked by 1978 coach Kevin Fallon - who was them himself sacked. Stamp went to Eastern Suburbs, where he scored a further national league hatrick.

In Scotland he had played for Queen's Park, and Partick Thistle, and was a Scottish amateur rep.

Jim Barry

Jim Barry. Born in Limerick, Eire, emigrated to Hamilton from Liverpool in 1975, and proved to be a fantastic goalkeeper and one of the real characters of the game. Key member of the 1976 double-winning team and played 31 national league matches in 1977-78.

Played more national league for Hamilton in the early 80s but was relegated to the reserve bench in favour of Paul Meecham increasingly in 1982. Later played for Melville and Cambridge. Died of cancer in the early 90s.

A Waikato World Cup tournament (NZ, England, Scotland, Rest of the World) was played in his honour for a number of years after his death.

Previously played for Ellesmere Port Town in Liverpool.

Ray Powell

Ray Powell,1976.

Fullback and key member of the class of 76. Came up from Taranaki, where he played for Moturoa. Made 12 national league appearances. Became coach of Waikato Unicol in early 80s, then retired from football to grow cabbages.

Bomber Dolman

Ian "Bomber" Dolman. Tough gritty English migrant who played centre back as Hamilton won the Air New Zealand Cup and northern league in 1976. Bomber played his early football for the Sheffield United schoolboy team and first arrived in NZ in 1974, where he was snapped up by Affco Rangers (later Ngaruawahia Affco and Ngaruawahia United).

Worked at the Horotiu freezing works as a chamber hand. Sadly he returned to England towards the end of the 1977 season because of family illness. He made 14 appearances in the national league, in a Hamilton team which finished fourth.Playing alongside Alex Young, it gave Hamilton the tallest central defensive pair in the country. His final game for Hamilton was against Wellington Diamond United at Muir Park on July 24, 1977.

Hamilton AFC v Stop Out April 17, 1977

This was the first national league match played in Hamilton. (1-1 draw)

From the programme: Our first national league season is underway. After many years of trying to crash into the big time, we have now made it, and it is only fair to warn the other national league clubs that not only do we intend staying in the league, but intend to do well year after year. At the time of going to press we have played only one game against TTU at Christchurch from which we took a point. We are also anticipating adding further points from our two away games of Easter Weekend. The first home game of the season is against Stop Out, whom we welcome to Muir Park. Our supporters are keenly looking forward to this game and with the match being played on Sunday we anticipate a large, vocal crowd in the Muir Park tradition. Mick and Alec are in fine voice this year and have been doing some serious pre-season training.

Ken Morrison

Ken Morrison.

Great left back. Made the most appearances of anyone (43 starts and 1 sub) in Hamilton's first two seasons in the national league, 1977 and 1978.

Morrison was born in 1951 and played for three years with Dumbarton and two with Beith Juniors in the UK before coming to New Zealand, initially with Caversham, and then Hamilton.

Ray Veall

Ray Veall. Born 1943. Former professional with Everton (11 appearances, in goal), Doncaster Rovers, Huddersfield, and Preston North End.

Joined Hamilton as a key member of the double winning team of 1976 in the autumn of a playing career.

19 appearances for Hamilton in the national league in 1977 before retiring.

Magic player.

John Ravenscroft

John Ravenscroft. He was born in England, but grew up in New Zealand, as was a North Island schoolboy rep before joining Hamilton in 1969 as a 16-year-old. Tough, powerfully built and skilful winger/midfielder.

One of the goalscorers in the 3-1 Air New Zealand Cup final win over Gisborne City at Newmarket Park.

21 appearances for Hamilton in the national league in 1977.

Barry McKenzie

Barry McKenzie. Born 1949, joined Hamilton in 1969. Mainly a striker, he was a great servant to the club in the 1970s and 80s. A forceful, bustplayer, McKenzie could hit the ball hard with either foot and was strong in the air.

Dave Wallace

Dave Wallace, Hamilton defender. Photo taken in 1970

ABOVE: Hamilton AFC, 1974.

ABOVE: Hamilton AFC team photo from 1975. Note coach Brian Coe's trousers, all the fashion back in the day.

ABOVE: Jim Barry saves against Mt Wellington (Ray Powell and Alex Yong look on) in the semifinal of the Air New Zealand Cup, 1976 at Newmarket park. Despite being northern league underdogs, Hamilton won 3-1, with goals to Ian Dolman, Barry McKenzie and Dennis Tindall, to take their unbeaten record to 21 matches. Keith Nelson never got on the scoresheet, but was at the heart of Hamilton's great attacking power.

1976 Working bee

Photos during and after a club working bee at Muir Park.

Upgrading that year also included crowd leaning barriers erected to the north of the stand, donated by John Dobbs Welding and fabricated by Brymer Fabrications.

John Ravenscroft joined a typically large crowd at the final whistle in saluting a fine 4-1 home win over Eden in 1976.

Michael Groom

Mike Groom was one of the most technically skilful players to come out of Hamilton, and was largely self-taught, often seen as a kid kicking a tennis ball around Galloway Park.

The larger photo here was taken in 1984 and the smaller in 1981.

As a teenager in 1977 he trialed with Manchester United, Bolton Wanderers and Norwich, then played reserve football with Port Vale in the third division.

Groom made his national league debut in 1978, aged 19, in Kevin Fallon's Hamilton team. Fallon wrote at the start of that season... "Mike Groom returns from an experience-getting year in the UK, and for me, looks like he will be a name to remember before the year is out."

As it happened Hamilton were relegated, but the following year Groom led the forward line with style as Hamilton won the northern league to return to national ranks.

Groom went on to play 22 games for the All Whites, including 14 in 1980 when he was with Hamilton. It should have been a lot more, but at some point Mike fell out of love with football, and it was only much later that he rediscovered it to form his football academy in conjunction with being a teacher at St Paul's.

FUNDRAISING: In an era before pokie grants national league clubs had to put plenty of effort into fundraising. This 20c Forecast was one such fundraiser... punters would get a form in their programmes and be invited to pick the half and fulltime score. This one was for the home game v Mt Wellington - where record show the attendance was 1455, the highest of 1977 by nearly 250. (Lowest attendance was 250 v Dunedin City)

1977 Hamilton player pen pics

Ignore the bad spelling for Ian Dolman.

Always curious how the coaching staff got the most detailed profiles... by contrast their most accomplished player, former Evertonian Ray Veall got one line.

Kevin Fallon. Huge things were expected when Fallon took over from Brian Coe in 1978, given Hamilton performed so well in their debut national league season. But his reign as player-coach was a disaster as Hamilton finished 10th in a 12-team league and were relegated. Fallon is more remembered for throwing the teacups at halftime and sacking two of the club's most popular players in Alf Stamp and Alex Young ijn July after they missed training. Fallon was himself sacked before the end of the season, a casualty of player power. The senior players, notably international Dennis Tindall, took over, but couldn't save Hamilton.

Laurie Fawcett. Left winger, New Zealand U19 representative, made his national league debut in 1977.

Was with Hamilton as a 13-year-old and was still there decades later as long-serving administrator, and then served on the board of Waikato FC for many years.

This photo would have been taken in the mid 70s. They all had hair like that then.

Harry Gilgrist. Harry was a youthful but very accomplished centreback who made 37 national league appearances for Hamilton in 1977 and 1978, and was a regular through until the mid-80s.

Came through Hamilton Boys' High ranks (though was born in Liverpool), first played for Claudelands Rovers then joined Hamilton in 1976, aged 20. His younger brother (goalkeeper) Alan also played for Hamilton and later for North Shore at national league level. Alan also played a couple of game for Waikato United in 1988 when Gary Dillistone was injured.

ABOVE: In its programme against Trans Tours United on August 6, 1978, Hamiltion AFC took the rare step of publicising the official attendance figures for all national league for the 1977 season. Hamilton's season aggregate attendance of 8170 was the third highest in the league and it reported the single highest match attendace for all clubs, of 1455 versus Mt Wellington.

Jeff Coulshed. Photo taken in 1991. Coulshed emigrated from England in the early 60s, having played for Skelnersdale United. He joined Hamilton, and apart from a spell playing for Hakoah in Sydney and Macedonia in Melbourne, appeared to spend most of his active life at Muir Park, either as player, coach, fan, or just as a character. Coached Hamilton to the northern league title in 1979, with a record low four goals conceded, and then in the national league in 1980. Later coached Waikato women to their first national titles in 1989 and 1990. Later coached a host of northern league clubs. Was briefly a Waikato United board member.